Wrapped, preferably cylindrical, product and a method of farming said product

ABSTRACT

A preferably cylindrical product, such as a paper roll, is wrapped using an elastic wrapping band, particularly in order to protect the edges thereof from damage caused by water and shocks during transport and storing. The elastic or creped wrapping band is wound around the end of the product in several layers with one edge of the band extending over the end of the product while stretching the band so that said edge thereof contracts tightly against the end side of the product, the wrapping band thus forming a hooplike protection at the edge of the product. Alternatively there may be used only one layer of a relatively thick elastic material, such as rubber. Before applying onto the product that part of the wrapping band coming against the mantle surface of the product may be prestretched in order to give the band a suitable form corresponding to the product end to be protected. In a paper roll the mantle surface may be protected by a thinner wrapping or the outest paper layers themselves may form the desired protection in this area.

United States Patent [1 1 Hiltunen et a1.

[451 July 22,1975

[75] Inventors: Mikko Hiltunen; Kaarlo Halmekytii,

both of Helsinki, Finland {73] Assignee: Ay Transpak Ab Consulting.

Helsinki, Finland [22] Filed: June 20, 1973 [21] Appl. N0.: 371,713

Primary Exuminer-Donald E. Watkins Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Jay L. Chaskin, Esq.

[57] ABSTRACT A preferably cylindrical product. such as a paper roll, is wrapped using an elastic wrapping band particu larly in order to protect the edges thereof from damage caused by water and shocks during transport and storing. The elastic or creped wrapping band is wound around the end of the product in several layers with one edge of the band extending over the end of the product while stretching the band so that said edge thereof contracts tightly against the end side of the product, the wrapping band thus forming a hooplike protection at the edge of the product. Alternatively there may be used only one layer of a relatively thick elastic material, such as rubber. Before applying onto the product that part of the wrapping band coming against the mantle surface of the product may be prestretched in order to give the band a suitable form corresponding to the product end to be protected. In a paper roll the mantle surface may be protected by a thinner wrapping or the outest paper layers themselves may form the desired protection in this area.

12 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures WRAPPED, PREFERABLY CYLINDRICAL, PRODUCT AND A METHOD OF FARMING SAllD PRODUCT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION wrapping different types of products. it will be described below in connection with the wrapping of paper rolls for which it is particularly advantageous.

2. Description of the Prior Art Nowadays paper rolls are wrapped in wrapping machines in which a wrapping material of a specific width for each roll size is used directly from a wrapping material roll. Therefore several sizes of wrapping material rolls are necessary.

In spite of the several wrapping material layers and various folding methods due to the necessary wrapping process, paper rolls are very vulnerable to shocks and humidity. The edges in particular are easily damaged. Especially during storage and transportation, the rolls are highly vulnerable owing to protuberances such as stones on the floor.

In such a case, part of the roll must be cut off and rerolled. Furthermore, water on the floor penetrates directly into the roll through gaps in its bottom with the result that the quality of the roll is damaged or the roll is actually broken during handling. As the average' roll sizes are continuously on the increase, the damages are growing out of proportion.

In many wrapping machines, a paper roll which moves longitudinally must be turned into a transversal position for the time of wrapping. This is due to the wrapping machine structure and the wrapping method. In addition, obtaining protection for the ends requires relatively complicated folding mechanisms, devices for spreading glue on the end sheets, and pressing and heating devices for the ends, of which there are several different types. The size and number of the wrapping material rolls, their lifting device, the device for turning the rolls, devices for folding and pre'creping the ends, and the glue spreading, pressing and heating device make the wrapping machine expensive, complicated, and large. Furthermore, the general performance of the machine is poor.

The Finnish patent No. 44,757 introduces a method which eliminates the use of the conventional folding devices in wrapping. This method is characterized in that a creped or otherwise elastic wrapping material is stretched during the wrapping with such a force that the parts of the wrapping which extend over the ends of the roll become conical. This eliminates the need of actual folding devices, and the edges of the wrapping can be folded against the ends of the roll while, in a separate phase, the heating plates are pressed against the end surfaces at the. time the end sheets are glued. According to the patent, the edges of the wrapping are thereby in advance given such a conical shape that they always turn inwards when the heating plates are pressed against the end surfaces.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a wrapping method of the character once described, which comprises winding an elastic wrapping band around the end of the product so as to form a protecting hoop at the edges of said end, while keeping part of said band extending over the edge of the product and stretching the band so that, owing to its mechanical elasticity, the band contracts tightly against the end surface of the product during wrapping.

Thus the object of the present invention is to obtain, by using the band principle, a completed end folding already at the wrapping stage, which eliminates the pressing and heating devices necessary in conventional folding, and to create a strong, tight, and solid protective hoop at the ends. This is a highly noteworthy progress in paper roll wrapping.

Surprisingly, it has been noticed in connection with the invention, that by using an appropriate wrapping band and method the edges of the wrapping band can be made to pull tightly to the end of the roll without using any separate folding devices, heating plates, or other pressing devices.

The present invention also makes it possible to place and glue tightly the end sheet at the wrapping stage without pressing or heating devices. Different known hot-gluing devices can be used for the gluing, in which case the spreading of the glue can take place on the band and/or the part of the band pulled against the end of the roll during the wrapping.

According to the present invention, an elastic film. a creped humidity-resistant paper, or the like, of a predetermined width, is wrapped around the product while it is fed through the wrapping machine, which can be, for example, of a type introduced in patent application Ser. No. 326,870. By wrapping several layers of the band on top of each other at the ends of the roll, the edges of the ends in particular are protected against water and shocks as the band forms a reinforcing hoop which, owing to the elasticity of the band, pulls around the edge completely against the end surface. For example, so-called diagonal wrapping can be used for immediately proceeding from the end where the wrapping is started to wrapping the mantle, in which case a predetermined degree of overlapping is obtained, and the overlapping parts are immediately seamed watertightly. When approaching the other end of the roll, it is wrapped by straight wrapping into an end hoop like the first end. It is also possible to wrap the ends and the mantle either by diagonal or straight wrapping simultaneously or in steps in different manners. The end sheets can either be left under the end hoop edge, in which case the end sheet is set in place and glued at the wrapping stage, or on top of the hoop edge, and it can also be seamed tightly by different known methods. In some cases one band layer at the end of the product may be suffieient, especially if a particularly thick band or a separate hoop is used.

When the paper roll is strong and not easily damaged by humidity, the outer layers of the roll may be allowed to form a mantle protection, and in this case the wrapping band is fitted only at the ends and, when needed, end sheets are also added.

To be successful, the method according to the invention naturally requires an appropriately elastic band or stretching film and an appropriate wrapping device.

One preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that, before fitting the band around the end of the product, the part of it which comes against the mantle surface of the product is first stretched, while the part which comes against the end surface is left free so that it tends even in advance to pull into an angle in relation to the stretched part. Good results are thus obtained in wrapping and the requirements set for the used wrapping band are simultaneously eased.

The basic idea of this preferred embodiment lies in that the wrapping band is strecthed, before it is fitted on the product to be wrapped, by leaving one of its edges free during the stretching so that it will turn into an angle in relation to the stretched part, and the band obtains the form of an angle profile before it is fitted over the edge of the product. At least if the product is cylindrical, e.g. a paper roll, it is appropriate to bring the wrapping band to the paper roll through, for example, a braking and folding roller, so that the part of the band which comes against the end of the paper roll also extends over the said folding roller and is thereby left free during the stretching. The device which pulls the band can be the paper roll itself which rests on, for example, a pair of driving rollers. The device according to the invention is applicable to carrying out this embodiment. Thus the said apparatus comprises means for stretching that part of the band which comes against the mantle surface of the product, said means being arranged to grab the wrapping band during the stretching only at said band part which comes against the mantle surface of the product.

The following are some of the important advantages gained by the invention:

1. An important, strong protective hoop is obtained at each roll end, and the layers of the hoop can also be glued or laminated by hot seaming. These end hoops protect the product very well both in horizontal and vertical handling and in storage by keeping the product itself away from protuberances such as stones, etc. and by preventing the product from coming in contact with water which might be on the floor. It must also be noted that by conventional folding methods gaps are left at the roll end which allow water from the floor, for example, to penetrate into the product. By the method according to the invention such gaps are not created and the roll end is completely tight.

1 2. No separate end hoops or hooping machines are necessary for increasing the durability of the ends.

3. The invention makes unnecessary the currently needed conical or conventional folding devices, devices for spreading glue on the end sheets, and the separate pressing and heating devices.

For example, in the method introduced in Finnish patent 44,757, at least heating or other pressing devices are needed for bringing the conical end and the end sheet against the product end, which involves two separate working stages.

4. The invention makes it possible to use only one o few wrapping material widths for all product sizes.

5. The roll sizes and weights of the wrapping material are minimized.

6. The space requirement and price of the machine appropriate for applying the invention are only a fraction in comparison to the currently used ones.

7. The hoisting devices currently required for handling the wrapping material rolls become unnecessary.

8. The paper roll need not be turned into a transversal position and then again into the longitudinal position during the entire process as is necessary in the currently used wrapping machines. This makes the necessary conveyors and the devices for handling the rolls when conveying them to the wrapping machine and to storage less expensive.

9. When protection of different degrees is desired for the mantle, this can be obtained by, for example, variations of the degree of the overlapping of the diagonal wrapping. In this case the numbers oflayers and, consequently, expenses are essentially decreased in comparison to the previously known methods. (A lamination effect is obtained by gluing the overlapping part.)

10. In this case the machine is generally applicable to all different sizes. Rolls of almost any diameter and size can be wrapped one immediately after the other.

11. At the end, at the band edge which has been wrapped tightly against the product end, there is an unstressed point where the end sheet is hot seamed or glued. This is very important in the stretching film principle. In this case it is obtained without any tension removal measures which are normally necessary. If, when the end sheet is attached, those parts of the wrapping which extend over the paper roll ends are only conical at the pressing and heating stage, an even film is not obtained but the wrapping wrinkles at various points and leaves water gaps at the end.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows the end ofa paper roll wrapped according to the invention,

FIG. 2 shows a similar view, however, with the end surface protected with two layers of paper, and

FIG. 3 shows an advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS According to FIGS. 1 and 2, paper roll 1 has been wrapped by winding elastic band 2 around the roll, progressing from right to left, the roll moving in the opposite direction. At the end of the roll, several layers of the band are wrapped around the product while the band is continuously stretched and so that part of the band width extends over the edge of the end, in which case hoop-like reinforcement 3 is obtained. Owing to the elasticity of the band, edge 5 of hoop 3 pulls around the roll end edge and tightly against the end in the manner indicated in the figures. As was noted above, this hoop provides very good protection against both humidity and shocks. When desired, it can be seamed watertightly to the previous band layers.

End sheet 4 of the roll can be fitted to the roll end according to FIG. 1 in advance so that it is left under edge 5 'of hoop 3 and be glued to the first band layer. End sheet 4 can also be attached to the outside of the edge part of hoop 3, as shown in FIG. 2. In this case, additional end sheet 6 can be also fitted under the end hoop edge.

In addition to cylindrical products, this invention can also be applied to wrapping items with polygonal cross sections, e.g. timber bundles.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the product to be packed also consists of paper roll 1 which rests on two driving rollers l2, 13 which rotate it. Wrapping band 2 which unwinds from roll 10 is fitted around the paper roll end", this band can be creped paper with a moderate elasticity. However. the band need not be fully recovering elastic material.

' According to the invention. roller combination 7, 8, 9 has been fitted between wrapping band roll and paper roll 1; this roller combination is used to prestretch the band and shape it into an appropriate form for fitting it on the paper roll: Rollers 8 and 9 can rotate freely and they guide wrapping band 2 along part of the peripheral surface of folding roller 7. Roller 7 is a rubber-coated roller with an appropriate diameter and provided with a friction surface, and it forms a gap with at least roller 9 to press band 2.

Driving rollers 12 and 13 work indirectly as band pulling devices. Simultaneously, folding roller 7 is slowed down by a braking device not shown in the figure in order to stretch, i.e., prestress, the band before it arrives at paper roll 1. When necessary, additional measures can naturally be taken to prevent possible sliding between driving rollers 12, 13 and roll 1, or the rotation of roll 1 can be secured by some other means.

When the band is fitted to run, in the manner illustrated in the figure. only partly over folding roller 7 while a pulling force is directed at it, the band folds by itself into the desired shape to be fitted over the edge of the paper roll end. Part 5 of band 2 which extends over roller 7 is not necessarily subject to stretching and therefore it bends into an angle in relation to stretched part 3 in the manner illustrated. The stretching of band part 5 can be made more effective by fitting a reinforcement, for example, thread 11, at its outermost edge,

Both ends of the paper roll can be covered separately or simultaneously by turning the roll or by using two devices of the desired type. It is naturally also possible to use a wrapping paper broader than the paper roll and thereby cover both ends simultaneously. However, when long paper rolls are concerned, to save wrapping material, it is usually more advantageous to cover only the roll edges in the described manner and the ends with end sheets as described above, while the mantle part can be covered with some less expensive wrapping material or be left free so that the outermost layer/s may work as protection.

Even though the braking and folding device fitted in front of the product to be protected is preferably a roller as shown in the figure, other solutions can be considered for this, for example, the use of straight or curved guide plates. Other parts of the described solution can also be varied without deviating from the idea of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A method of wrapping a product, such as a paper roll, particularly for increasing the waterproofing and shockproof qualities thereof, which comprises winding an elastic wrapping band around the end of the product so as to form a protecting hoop at the edges of said end, while keeping part of said band extending over the edge of the product and stretching the band so that, owing to its mechanical elasticity, the band contracts tightly against the end surface of the product during wrapping.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein several layers of said elastic band are wound one upon the other around the end edge of the product.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein there is used one layer of a relatively thick elastic band to form a hoop around the end edges of the product.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the elastic band consists of a bitumen-impregnated wrapping band.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the elastic band consists of a polyethylene-coated wrapping band.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the elastic band consists of a polyethylene film.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein there is used a wrapping band with a stretch-resistant reinforcement, such as threads, at that edge part of the band which comes against the end side of the product.

8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising fitting of an end sheet onto the end surface of said product for additional protection of said end.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein said end sheet is attached to that unstressed edge of the elastic wrapping band having contracted tightly against the edge surface of the product.

10. A packed, preferably cylindrical product, partic' ularly a paper roll, which comprises an elastic, such as creped wrapping band wound into a hooplike protection around the end of the product during continuous stretching and with an edge part of the band extending over the edge of the product end so that said edge part has contracted completely against the end surface of the product.

11. A packed product according to claim 10, wherein said hooplike protection comprises several layers of the elastic wrapping band.

12. A packed product according to claim 10, wherein said hooplike protection comprises one layer of a relatively thick band of elastic material, such as rubber.

UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. 3895711 DATED 3 July 22, 1975 INV ENTORQ) 1 MIKKO HILTUNEN et a1.

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

[5 L] Correct title to read --WRAPPED PREFERABLY CYLINDRICAL,

PRODUCT AND AMETHOD OF FORMING SAID PRODUCT-- [73] Correct Assignee to read --Oy Transpak Ab Consulting,

Helsinki, Finland-- O01. 6, claim 1, line 2, change "waterproofing", to

--rrraterproof-- Signed and Sealed this tenth Day of February 1976 [SEAL] Altest:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer (ummissiuner ujParenrs and Trademarks 

1. A method of wrapping a product, such as a paper roll, particularly for increasing the waterproofing and shockproof qualities thereof, which comprises winding an elastic wrapping band around the end of the product so as to form a protecting hoop at the edges of said end, while keeping part of said band extending over the edge of the product and stretching the band so that, owing to its mechanical elasticity, the band contracts tightly against the end surface of the product during wrapping.
 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein several layers of said elastic band are wound one upon the other around the end edge of the product.
 3. A method according to claim 1, wherein there is used one layer of a relatively thick elastic band to form a hoop around the end edges of the product.
 4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the elastic band consists of a bitumen-impregnated wrapping band.
 5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the elastic band consists of a polyethylene-coated wrapping band.
 6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the elastic band consists of a polyethylene film.
 7. A method according to claim 1, wherein there is used a wrapping band with a stretch-resistant reinforcement, such as threads, at that edge part of the band which comes against the end side of the product.
 8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising fitting of an end sheet onto the end surface of said product for additional protection of said end.
 9. A method according to claim 8, wherein said end sheet is attached to that unstressed edge of the elastic wrapping band having contracted tightly against the edge surface of the product.
 10. A packed, preferably cylindrical product, particularly a paper roll, which comprises an elastic, such as creped wrapping band wound into a hooplike protection around the end of the product during continuous stretching and with an edge part of the band extending over the edge of the product end so that said edge part has contracted completely against the end surface of the product.
 11. A packed product according to claim 10, wherein said hooplike protection comprises several layers of The elastic wrapping band.
 12. A packed product according to claim 10, wherein said hooplike protection comprises one layer of a relatively thick band of elastic material, such as rubber. 